The Study Of Criticism On Female Literature In The Qing Dynasty

This dissertation takes the criticism on female literature in the Qing Dynasty as the research object. The criticism on female literature in the Qing Dynasty refers to the people of Qing Dynasty commented on poem、ci、qu and novel written by women. Their critical methods included poetry anthology、notes on poets(shihua)、 prefaces and postscripts. From three aspects of critic、criticism content and criticism method, this article comprehensively describes the development of the criticism on female literature in the Qing dynasty. The study combines the criticism on female literature with the historical background of Qing dynasty, emphasizing the influence of the relationship between men and women on literary criticism. Using the theory of Feminism, we discussed women’s real living condition and gender culture of Qing dynasty.This paper is divided into three parts, including Introduction, main text and Conclusion. The main text is divided into four chapters. The first chapter researched on the cultural environment of the criticism on female literature in the Qing Dynasty. The budding feminist consciousness and the prosperity of female literature are the major reasons for the flourishing of the criticism on female literature in the Qing Dynasty. Analysing the criticism on female literature in late Ming Dynasty, we showed the prelude of the criticism on female literature in the Qing Dynasty. The development of the criticism on female literature in the Qing Dynasty can be divided into three stages. The second chapter researched on the first stage, from Shunzhi(1644) to Kangxi(1722). During this period, the criticism on female literature grew quickly. The third chapter researched on the second stage, from Yongzheng(1723) to Daoguang(1850). At this time, the criticism on female literature went into a steady development. Many famous critics, such as Yuan Mei, Chen Wenshu, Shen Shanbao, Yun Zhu etc, appeared in this stage. Their criticisms represented the highest achievement of the criticism on female literature in the Qing Dynasty. But from the perspective of female consciousness, these critics returned to a conservative attitude. Their female consciousness reflected the gender culture of the traditional patriarchal society. The fourth chapter researched on the third stage, from Xianfeng(1851) to Wusi Movement(1919). During this period, the criticism on female literature showed some new changes. At this time, the western thoughts were introduced to China, gender concept of traditional patriarchal society was doubted and repudiated by the people who were educated well.Finally, this paper considered that the people in the Qing Dynasty paid close attention to women’s creative behavior, which represented the critic’s awareness of female consciousness. But, sometimes it was the critic’s tool to revise the current atmosphere of literature, or even as an emotional substitute when the critic’s self value cannot be achieved. Women can create and comment in the Qing Dynasty, but their action must comply with strict gender order of traditional patriarchal society. Once they broke the framework, women would be warned and accused by men and women themselves.